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Best Pistols & Guns For Concealed Carry & Self Defense In 2018

Best Pistols To Consider For Concealed Carry & Long Term Survival

Best Concealed Carry Pistols In 2018

Below are the best compact and sub-compact concealed carry pistols in 2018. These are all exceptional, highly reliable pistols perfect for self defense and survival when needed. Most of these top concealed carry guns are the newer super slim polymer pistols. Some models are several years old, but they are still best in class guns for concealed carrying. Keep reading to see pictures, watch videos, and learn more about all of these outstanding guns.

Why you might need it

With the world becoming more and more dangerous, it is becoming increasing more important for responsible citizens to obtain conceal carry permits and know the laws on owning and using firearms. Responsible citizens will train how to safely use these weapons for self defense and also be available to assist police in thwarting or reducing terrorism when the bad guys start shooting at the general public. In a Doomsday long term survival scenario, the world would become exponentially more dangerous, so stockpiling a variety of firearms and ammo, including small compact pistols that can be conceal carried would be valuable if and when SHTF. When the police are not around to protect you and your loved ones, if you believe in the 2nd Amendment then you also know that the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.

The "S" Version - Ruger LC9s - 9mm Pistol

What is the best caliber gun for Concealed Carry?

The experts recommend a bullet no smaller than 9mm for concealed carry purposes. If you or others are threatened with bodily harm, you would probably just have seconds at most to react, and such a threat calling for a concealed carry weapon would likely occur in close quarters. In such close range, you need stopping power because, if for example, you shoot someone charging at you with a knife from 5' away with a .22 or .380 caliber bullet and the shot is not perfect, there is a high chance even if the attacker were fatally wounded, that they still may be able to follow through with stabbing you. Smaller .380 ACP, .32 caliber, or .22 LR guns are more comfortable and easier to conceal, but have less stopping power. The best stopping power comes from a .44, .45 or .357 magnum. However, any gun larger than .40 caliber is generally too large for concealed carry purposes. There are some compact .45 caliber pistols that could be considered for concealed carry. 9mm and .40 caliber rounds seem to have just the right compromise, but it is really a matter of preference. Some people will still conceal carry a full sized .45 caliber or .357 magnum.

The best recommendation is to make up your own mind on which pistol is right for you. Consider how you will conceal carry, what kind of clothing you will wear, what kind of holster you will use or if you will not even use a holster. After you make decisions on clothing and holsters, you then need to see the guns in person and ask the salesperson to allow you to try out the unloaded gun for how it feels and for concealment right in front of them (so they don't think you are trying to steal it). You should also fire the pistols that you like at a firing range. Firing ranges really like people to test fire their demo firearms so they can increase their sales. Firing ranges generally just require that you purchase the bullets. You may find that the pistol that you think is the best is not the pistol for you. You may want more or less power, larger or smaller size or width, or decide that you want to have a pistol that carries more bullets and you can figure out a way to conceal carry that larger pistol without creating an "imprint" so that others can easily detect that you are conceal carrying. When making your decision consider the price of ammo. 9mm rounds have a better price point compared to the larger rounds. So check ammo prices before buying your gun(s).

The best concealed carry gun is the pistol that you will actually wear every day, is 100% reliable, and that you can shoot accurately. It needs to hold enough bullets to provide adequate protection, and needs adequate threat stopping power. The choice is always going to include a compromise between comfort and number of bullets. If you need a lot of bullets, the Glock 19 (9mm) is a great choice as it holds 15+1 bullets and all Glock's are just fantastic highly reliable weapons. But with the Glock 19, you have a wider barrel width, and the wider barrel width is less comfortable and harder to conceal than some of these other pistols that hold less rounds, so does it work for you?

Glock 19 - 9mm Compact

The Smith & Wesson M&P Shield 9mm is a terrific gun for conceal carrying. It is thin and light and has a 7+1 or 8+1 Bullet Capacity. At .95 inches wide and just 19 ounces, the Shield is easy to carry, easy to conceal and shoots very well, considering its compact size.

S&W MP Shield - 9mm Compact

Two of our favorites are the Beretta PX4 Storm 9mm and the Springfield XD(M) 9mm. Both of these Compact sized pistols hold a lot of rounds, and we personally prefer having more rounds over the comfort of a smaller Sub-Compact for normal every day carry. However, there are times when we prefer to carry a Sub-Compact when clothing choices dictate the need to carry a smaller slimmer pistol. The PX4 Storm also comes in a space aged looking Sub-Compact version that is very nice and is shown in one of the videos below. In fact, you'll find variants of most of the guns shown on this page in different calibers and sizes (Full, Compact, and Sub-Compact). The manufacturers really provide a wide variety of choices. You really need to handle them in person, but you'll make a better decision if you educate yourself first.

Has two high capacity magazines (13+1 round & 19+1 round) that allow you to convert from a Compact to Full size gun just by changing the magazine. How awesome is that! Besides being a high quality, terrific, beautiful pistol with superb features, you can convert your concealed carry pistol into a full size pistol just by changing the magazine! Watch the YouTube video below for the XDM-9.

Is easy to shoot with minimal kick-back

Has an extremely customizable grip

Includes a hip holster and a magazine holder

Is simple to take apart and clean

Springfield XD(M) - 9mm Compact

New Concealed Carry Clothing

With the ever increasing popularity by women to conceal carry pistols, there are now a lot of new concealed carry options on the market that will appeal to ladies. Belly band holsters made of neoprene are super comfortable and are the latest craze among women and men like them too. Also, there companies like Gun Tote’n Mamas that make a wide assortment of beautiful purses and handbags that are specifically designed for concealed carry. Concealed handgun corsets, concealment leggings and shorts are also very popular with women.

At A Glance Comparison of The Best Concealed Carry Pistols

Click on the link for any pistol to see more options, specs and details at BassProShops or Cabela's. Note that Cabela's now allows you to purchase firearms online.BassProShops only allows in store purchases, but both of these websites are great for getting specifications, features, and customer reviews on firearms, ammo, and accessories.

Purchase Firearms Online

Note: You can now purchase firearms and ammo online at Cabela's using this link. Just navigate to Cabela's shooting section and be sure to make note of their coupons. You still have to pick up firearms at one of their stores, but you can typically get a better deal online using one of Cabela's coupons. The convenience of filling out the paperwork online and only making one trip to the gun store versus two, make online shopping for firearms worth it if you know exactly which firearm you want and have an online coupon to beat the in store price. Just read and follow their online firearms ordering guidelines, place your order, and pick up the firearm (pistol, rifle, or shotgun) at their store. Please note: Actual possession is only transferred in-person after all applicable government requirements, including background checks, are fulfilled. You should check your applicable federal, state, and local laws before attempting to acquire a firearm. If you are not located near a Cabela's or BassProShops, their websites are still good places to search for firearms and reviews, and to shop for ammo, accessories and other outdoor gear.

"Baby" Glock 27 - .40 S&W Sub-Compact

Sig Sauer P290 - 9mm Pistol

No matter what pistol you choose, you are going to be interested in checking out the following recommended accessories:

Gun Loader / Unloaders (These are a must have if they do not come with your pistol. Without these, your fingers will be sore and it takes forever to reload. No time for that when more zombies are headed your way!)

Howard Leight R-01526 Impact Sport Electronic Earmuff (These are exceptional shooting ear muffs for the money. With them on, sound is amplified 4x, so you can hear anyone sneaking up on you or if you are hunting, you can hear game that you are stalking! The moment you shoot, the loud bang turns off the amplification and your hearing is protected. If the batteries go dead, then these ear muffs behave as normal hearing protectors.)

YouTube Videos

The Compact & Sub-Compact Pistols in this article are the best concealed carry pistols available today. Watch the YouTube videos below to get a good feel about several of these terrific guns. It's the best way to start learning about features, and you'll already begin to make up your mind about which guns you like and what is important to you in a concealed carry pistol.

The following YouTube video from Feb 2015 reviews three pistols that our still in our top list of Concealed Carry pistols above. The S&W M&P Shield (9mm), Springfield XDS (.45 ACP), and Glock 19 (9mm) are reviewed. Gun prices are higher since this video was made.

Walther PPS vs S&W Shield

Glock 27 Review - "My EDC Firearm"

GLOCK 30SF - Review

Caution & Warning

Use at your own risk. Please note that the information provided on this web site is for information only. TopSurvivalPreps.com and it's owner have no liability or responsibility for anyone using any items described on this web site including firearms. Please take proper care of your firearms, learn how to use them responsibly and train frequently. Understand the gun laws in your state and always properly secure your guns.

See Our Other Firearm Related Pages

For more information on firearms, ammo, and accessories for the typical American who is thankful for our 2nd Amendment rights, see our additional firearm related pages.